Deaeration apparatus



Oct. 20, 1942. J. R. M DERMET DEAERATI-ON' APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l R O T N E V m haz Oct. 20, 1942. J. R. M DERMET DEAERATION APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14, 1939 2 'sheets sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 20, 1942 DEAERATION APPARATUS John R. MeDermet,. Hempfleld Township, Westmoreland County, Pa., assignor 'n Elliott Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 14, 1939, Serial No. 294,910 11 Claims. (01. 261 -115) This invention pertains to heating and deaeratlng or degasifying of liquids, and more particularly, to procedure and apparatus for purifying feed water. 1

The present invention has particular application to procedure and apparatus for deaeration where the apparatus is subjected to swaying and tilting, for example, to conditions such as encountered in marine work.

As will be appreciated, the ordinary form of deaerator becomes rather inefficient and ineffective when employed under conditions such as encountered in marine use. The apparatus should be capable of efiectively operating even although subjected to constant tilting, tipping, or swaying action. Heretofore, the so-called marine types of deaerators have been rather inefficient from an economy standpoint. That is, in one construction, it was found necessary to atomize the feed water in order to obtain suitable deaeration; atomization was necessary to minimize so-called water hammer and other pounding actions adjacent the spray apparatus that are due, in part at least, to the action of steam uponthe water being deaerated. Such a type of deaerator, in addition to utilizing or wasting enormous amounts of energy (particularly steam velocity energy) tends to increase the wear and corrosive action upon the inside portions of the apparatus involved.

In view of the above considerations, it has been an object of my invention to provide new and improved procedureand apparatus for effectively deaerating feed water under unfavorable conditions, such as encountered in marine operation.

Another object of my invention has been to develop an improved procedure and apparatus employing, in general, efficient operating characteristics of a counter-flow induction type of heater such as set forth'in my Patent No. 1,742,998, entitled Method and apparatus for treating liquids, showing anapparatus suitable for a relatively stationary installation.

A further ,object of my invention has been to provide an efii'cient andpractical form of deaerating apparatus that will be operative over a wide range of load variations.

A still further object has been to devise a system for liquid deaeration that will eliminate the dsadvantageous features heretofore inherent in apparatus of the marine type and that will ha e an economy and effectiveness of action.

hese and many other objects of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the drawings, the description, and'the appending claims. v

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical view in elevation showing a section through a deaerator unit constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed View in elevation of a valve mechanism taken along the line II-II of Figure 3; v

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view taken along line IIIIII of Figure 1;

'Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a top fragmental section detail taken through deflecting vanes 2| of Figure 1.

In the embodiment of my invention shown for the purpose of illustration, I0 represents a unit having an upper, preliminary, induction heating, and partially deaerating chamber II, and a lower or final, thoroughfare heating, and deaeration stage or chamber I2. The bottom portion of the chamber l2 has a storage space for the puri fled water I3, which is removed through an outlet I4. I have also shown a skimmer type of overflow I5 that does not constitute a part of the present invention; a bafile I5a is positioned to prevent the purified water from falling into the opening I5.

Feed water to be deaerated enters inlet conduit I6 adjacent the top of the apparatus and passes through the tubes of a conventional type of vented-condenser I'I, leaving the condenser and entering the upper deaeration chamber II through a conduit I8. The water, before actually entering chamber II, passes through spray nozzle unit 20 that directs the water .outwardly in a plurality of vortex-like stream flows (thin vertical sheets) from the unit or substantial center of the chamber. In this manner the water is broken up into spray paths and moves about the upperportions of the chamber in somewhat circular or rotating paths within the confines of the wall portions thereof. spray apparatus has been fully described in my Patent No. 2,012,454, entitled Spray device. It

I0 and extend inwardly from peripheral portions of chamber II in the path of the spray from unit I2 to aid in breaking up the flow and in diverting it inwardly back into steam space I I.

The water thus sprayedis collected by a substantially centrally-positioned and upwardly and outwa dly-extending cup-shaped bafile plate 26.

A suitable type of the bafiie portion 26in such a manner that the broken-up or sprayed portions of water falling from the upper portion of chamber I I will be prevented from dropping through the space 28 between outer edges of the cup-shaped collecting bailie 26 and inner wall portions of chamber II.

The water thus collected or received moves along the inclined surface of the cup-shaped baffle 26 to a substantially centrally-located vertical-annulus-shaped shell element 29 that projects vertically downwardly from chamber I| into the lower chamber l2.

Steam is introduced into the unit I through an inlet 35 which enters laterally through and extends along the upper chamber I I, converges along its length, and terminates in a substantially vertically-depending portion 36. The portion 36 extends substantially concentrically within and in a spaced relationship with respect to the sleeve-lik annulus element 29, thus providing a flow path for the partially heated and deaerated water entering the lower chamber I2 from the upper chamber II. Steam entering through conduit 35, flows downwardly into the hollow interior or chamber of a distribution valve 40.

The distribution valve 40 has an outwardly-extending and upwardly-curved substantially symmetrically-shaped guide member 4| that may be formed or cast in two parts and secured together by suitable means, such as bolts 49a; entering water is directed downwardly along such guide from the annulus 29. A lower member or movable valve element 42 is removably and adjustably mounted on a vertically-extending support shaft 43 by means of a lock nut construction 44.

As shown particularly in Figures 2, 3, and 4, the movable valve plate 42 may comprise a two-part casting suitably secured together by bolt means 49; it has annularly extending and substantially spherically-shaped valve seats 45 that contact under portions of the guide 4| at positions adjacent outer-edge portions of the elements 4| and 42; the seats 45 are spaced inwardly a short distance therefrom to provide a peripherally-extending orifice orannulus-like chamber portion 46.

The movable valve element 42 is preferably dampened; for this purpose, I have shown a removable extension to the shaft 43 that is provided with outwardly-extending fin-like damper portions 5|! that are adapted to project into the liquid spac I3 of the lower chamber I2. The shaft 43 and the movable portion 42 are resiliently and somewhat loosely-positioned with respect to the guide portion 4| by means of a vertically-extending spring 41 that is removably connected by a shaft 48 and by removable bolt means 48a toextend from an inner portion of the conduit 35. It will be noted that the substan- 1 tially complementary shape relation between guide 4| and movable (spring-loaded) valve head 42 is such that they are held in a desired relationship, although substantially loosely-positioned. Cleaning doors 25 and 25' are respectively provided for the upper and lower chambers II and I2.

The vent condenser H has, as shown, a large opening 22 through which the steam and noncondensible gases enter, and a vent opening I9 for exhausting the non-condensible gases. Condensate from the condenser I'I returns to the upper chamber I I of the heater through a liquidsealed overflow pipe 24. As a result, the returning condensate, being in the up-iiow path to the condenser inlet 22, is subjected to preliminary heating and deaeration before it enters chamber II'.

In the operation, it is believed that I have developed a number of new and improved features. As previously pointed out, the incoming feed water to be deaerated, is first subjected to a preliminary heating treatment in vent condenser I1 and then enters chamber II to be sprayed outwardly and about substantially the full area thereof, in order to receive heat from the steam entering from the lower chamber or compartment I2 through space or opening 28, and thus, to become heated and partially deaerated thereby. The location of steam inlet 35 is such that heat normally lost by conduction from conduit 35 is imparted to the water in the upper chamber II to further increase and improve the heating anddeaerating action therein. The steam entering from the lower chamber, by reasons of pressure differentials existing between the upper and lower chambers, thus moves counterto the downward flow of water in chamber II, imparting heat to the water and condensing a portion of such steam. The uncondensed portions of steam and the non-condensible gases enter condenser I], as previously explained, through a large inlet 22. The condensed steam portions iagtaizrlii enter chamber l I through liquid-sealed in-' The thus-effectively heated and very thorough- 1y partially deaerated water falls downwardly along the passage provided between steam conduit 36 and the annulus-like shell 29. little frictional loss and thus the water attains a velocity that substantially corresponds to the velocity. of the fall that it would attain by falling through the same verticaldistance in free space. The outwardly and concavely curved guide 4| utilizes such gravity acceleration of the water to direct it'in a smooth and substantially uninterrupted path radially outwardly from the center of the lower chamber I2 in a continuous sheetlike stream during conditions of normal or heavy load. Steam issues from the chamber of valve 40 in proportion to'demand requirements, that is, depending upon the amount of water and deaeration to be accomplished. The steam moves past valve seat 45, at which time it has some velocity and a relatively thin thickness, to the orifice portion or openin 46 where it has little velocity and a greater thickness. It will be noted that the water and steam are directed in substantially parallel paths, and that they will thus contact somewhere, during normal load conditions, in the space beyond the valve member and the wall portions of the chamber I2. That is, the water has an upward and radial component by reason of the shape of guide 4|, and thus, due in part,

at least, to its greater density and lesser velocity,

tends to fall in space upon the steam curtain that, as previously explained, emerges at moderate velocity from the annulus chamber-46. The water thereafter assumes a droplet, slug, or random form and its deaeration is thereby completed. At the time of contact, the water and steam are at substantially the same temperature due to the high effectiveness of the heating action in the chamber II and also is, to some extent, due to the fact that water flows downwardly through a space that surrounds the steam inlet conduit 36. Conduction, radiation, and convection of heat from the steam thus further heat the water in its fall and later projection.

There is It will be appreciated that due to the control of the direction and flow of the water and steam, the low velocity of steam flow, and the fact that the steam and water meet in a substantially parallel relationship, etc., I have obtained a new high efliciency of deaerating action without the heretofore inherent problems and difiiculties involved in the atomization of the water by the deaerating steam. By providing inlet and outlet temperatures that do not vary, the water and steam are maintained in substantially constant ratio; the steam issupplied in automatically varying quantities, depending upon or in proportion to variations in the load and/or in the water introduced. By directing a water curtain and a steam curtain in substantially-parallel but eventually-converging paths, a high velocity-flow of steam is unnecessary and water-reaction pounding and vibration have been eliminated. f

It will be appreciated that water is inelastic and is diflicult to accelerate to high velocity due to inertia reaction corresponding to the amount of energy added thereto by the steam. This'produces a rattling noise and necessitates atomization in the prior art constructions to avoid heavy bumps in the valve mechanism. The present apparatus, at high load conditions, where quantitles and reactions are important, obtains a low velocity contact in such a manner that the re-' action is at a minimum and is, in effect, spaceinsulated from the operating parts of the unit; the water and steam are intimately mixed and the former is scattered in droplet-form throughout the space I2.

with high effectiveness.

As previously pointed out, the curved shape of the guide member 4i deflects the water out wardly and upwardly in order to utilize its velocity due to gravity acceleration in passing along the annulus 29. As no reversal of direction such as employed in atomization is required, the energy requirements are insignificant and the steam energy is utilized for water dissipation as effectively as possible without objectionable reaction effects upon the mechanical portions of the construction The water, in passing outwardly, increasingly diffuses. and on contacting the steam, there is water dissipation due to its method of distribution prior to contact. Thus the energy requirements for spraying are additionally reduced.

It will be noted that the outer extremities of the guide portion 4! of the valve are slightly shorter than the outer edge extremities of movable or spring-loaded portion 42. This. in combination with orifices 46, is significant in obtaining an effective and eiiicient operation of a device under low load conditions. At a very low load, say less than 5%, there may not be enough water to form the curved water curtain nor enough steam to form the steam curtain. Water then descends through the annulus 29 and forms a pool in the concavity of guide disk 4| and over the opening to the orifice 4B. When the cavity is full, the water flows over into the annulus space 46 at one or more points of the periphery and The structure is effectively practical in the operation under heavy, as well the steam admitted in accordance with the demands merely bubbles through the water in the orifice 46 to obtain what may be termed a scrubbing action. .Thus, during low load conditions, the water merely bubbles over the edge of the inner valve disk 4| outer valve disk 42. As the load increases, the steam thickness and velocity .will become suflicient to hurl the water out of the orifice in slugs or droplets. tity of the Water will increase and thus there is more energy of outward flow. In thetransition stage from the low to normal load conditions, a portion of the water may be prevented from entering orifice 46 by an upward movement of the steam. As previously pointed out, the steam entering the chamber of valve 40, emerges past valve seats 45 with a moderate velocity and immediately expands into the annular space 45 and emerges therefrom with a lesser velocity and a greater thickness.

.The above operation thus provides a highly eiiicient action regardless of the load conditions. It will also be noted that the major portion of the steam rising from the lower or final deaeration chamber l2 moves upwardly from space 28 between baiiies 262'!. .Thus, the steam can be eifectively employed to preheat the water flowine downwardly along the vertical annulus 29 through the walls thereof by conduction. without interfering with the grav ty acceleration of f such water flow as would be the case if the steam flowed upwardly along the inside of the annulus 29. The partially contaminated steam isprevented from contaminating the water in the lower or deaeration stage.

In Figure 1, for the purpose of showing and clearly disclosing the operation of the device under normal load conditions, I have indicated water flow by solid arrowed lines and steam flow by dotted arrowed lines.

I preferably provide the steam with enough velocity as it leaves the valve that it will carry past points where it might enter the space 29-36; however, the shape and arrangement of the valve and associated parts are also such that the counterfiow will be through the space 28.

Although for the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown an illustrative form thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many other suitable arrangemen s. mod fications. additions. substitutions. and subt actions may be made without depart n from the spirit and scope of my invention, as indicated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for heating and deaerating water troducing means, and resiliently mounted valve means for directing the water and s eam entering said lower chamber in substantially parallel radially-outwardly-projecting circular sheets unand falls over the edge of the der normal and high load conditions and for causing the steam to bubble through and scrub the entering water under low load conditions.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim l. wherein said valve means is constructed and arranged to direct the steam and water entering said lower chamber in such a manner as to minimize reactive forces upon said valve means, and to eliminate water hammer, and other objectional vibratory effects.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, comprising means extending, downwardly from said valve means into deaerated water being collected in such a manner as to dampen the action of said valve means.

4. Apparatus for heating and deaerating water comprising a chamber for heating and partially deaerating contaminated water, a second chamher for completing the heating and deaeration, means for introducing contaminated water to be deaerated in broken-up form within the spacing of said first chamber, means for introducing deaerating steam into said second chamber, means for directing partially heated and deaerated water from said first chamber downwardly under gravity acceleration into said second chamber, mixer means operably associated with said steam-introducing means and withsaid waterdirecting means, said mixer means having a pair of operably associated annulus-like portions, one of said annulus-like portions being shaped to direct the gravity accelerated water outwardly and upwardly within said second chamber. the other of said portions being shaped to direct the steam being introduced upwardly and outwardly within said second chamber and into a heating and de= aerating relationship with respect to the upwardly and outwardly projecting water.

5. Apparatus for deaerating water comprising a chamber for heating and partially deaerating water and a second chamber for completing the heating and deaeration, means for introducing contaminated water to be deaerated into said first chamber, means for introducing deaerating steam into said second'chamber, means connecting said first and second chambers for introducing partially contaminated steam from said second chamber into said first chamber to effect a preliminary heating and deaeration of the water being introduced into said first chamber, means for directing the water from said first chamber into said second chamber, mixer means operably associated with said steam-introducing means and said water-directing means, said rnixer means having a member for collecting the water introduced into said second chamber by said directing means, said mixer means having a second member operably associated with said first member and providing a steam space therewith for directing the steam upwardly and outwardly within such second chamber, said firstmember having a portion shaped to direct the water thereover and into the steam space provided between said first and second mentioned members in such a manner as to cause the outwardly moving steam to bubble therethrough to heat and deaerate the water.

6. Apparatus for heating and deaerating water comprising a chamber for heating and partially for directing partially contaminated steam from said second into said first chamber, mixer means within said second chamber operably associated with said water-directing means and said steamintroducing means, said mixer means having a pair or upwardly projecting cup-like portions, means for holding said cup-like Portions in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to each other to provide a steam space therebetween and for directing steam from said steam space upwardly and outwardly into the spacing of said second chamber, one of said cup-like portions being adapted to receive water from said directing means and to direct the water under low loads towards the spacing between said cup-like members and under normal and higher loads towards the outwarly-projected steam in such a manner as to complete the heating and deaeration of the water.

7. Apparatus for heating and deaerating water comprising a chamber forheating and partially deaerating contaminated water, a second chamher for completing the heating and deaeration, means for introducing contaminated water to be deaerated in broken-up form within the spacing of said first chamber, means for introducing deaerating steam into said second chamber, means for directing partially contaminated steam from said second into said first chamber, means for directing partially heated and deaerated water from said first chamber into said second chamber, mixer means, said mixer means having an upwardly sloped surface portion for receiving water from said directing means, said mixer means having a second upwardly sloped surface portion operably disposed in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to said first-mentioned portion in such a manner as to provide a steam chamber therewith, the steam chamber of said mixer means being connected to said steam-introducing means, and means directing steam outwardly into the spacing of said second chamber in sheet form from said steam chamber, a valve seat extending from one of said surface portions toward the other within the steam chamber, and means operably associated with said seat for varying the supply of steam in accordance with load conditions, said first-mentioned surface portion dircting the water over its surface and into heating and deaerating relationship with respect to the steam sheet.

8. Apparatus for heating and deaerating water comprising a chamber for heating and partially deaerating contaminated water, a second chamber for completing the heating and deaeration, means 'for introducing contaminated water to be deaerated in broken-up form within the spacing of said first chamber, means for-introducing deaerated steam into said second chamber, means for directing partially contaminated steam from said second into said first chamber, means for directing water from first chamber into said sec- .the spacing between said portions from said valve seat, and means for directing steam along said steamspace past said valve seat and radially-outwardly in sheet1ike form between said radial portions and into the spacing of said second chamber, said first-mentioned portion directing the water into heating and deaerating contact with the steam moving outwardly from the valve seat.

9. Apparatus for heating and deaerating water comprising a heating and deaerating chamber, means for introducing contaminated water to be deaerated within. the spacing of said chamber, and valve means for introducing deaerating steam into said chamber and into heating and deaerating contact with the contaminated water, said chamber having a water-collecting portion, and means extending from said valve means into the water-collecting portion of said chamber for damping said valve means.

10. Apparatus for heating and deaerating water comprising a chamber for heating and partially deaerating contaminated water, a second chamber for completing the heating and deaeration, means for introducing contaminated water to be deaerated within the spacing of said first chamber, means for introducing deaerating steam into said second chamber, means connecting said first and second chambers for introducing partially contaminated steam from said second chamber into said first chamber to effect a preliminary heating and deaeration of the water being introduced into said first chamber, means for directing partially heated and deaerated water from said first chamber into said second chamber, and means associated with said water-directing means and said steam-introducing means and having valve portions for directing the steam into heating and deaerating contact with the water within said second chamber, and an extending vane-like damper portion operably associated with at least one of said valve portions.

11. Apparatus for deaerating water comprising a chamber for heating and partially deaerating water and asecond chamber for completing the heating and deaeration, means for introducing contaminated water to be deaerated into said first chamber, means for introducing deaerating steam into said second chamber, means connecting said first and second chambers for introducing partially contaminated steam from said second chamber into said first chamber to effect a preliminary heating and deaeration of the water being introduced into said first chamber, means shaped to guide partially heated and deaerated water from said first chamber into said second chamber, and mixer means operably associated with said water-guiding means and said steamintroducing means and having a pair of operatively associated portions, one of said portions being shaped to direct steam from said steam introducing means substantially radially-outwardly into space provided by said second chambet, the other of said portions being shaped to direct water from said water-guiding means substantially radially-outwardly along aheat-receiving and somewhat parallel path with respect to the outwardly directed steam, and then, into convergence with such steam within the space of said second chamber beyond said mixer means.

12. Apparatus for deaerating Water comprising a chamber for heating and partially deaerating water and a second chamber for completing the heating and deaeration, means for introducing and steam in a heat exchange relation therewith within the space of said chamber.

13. Apparatus for heating and deaerating water comprising a chamber for heating and pair- I tially deaerating contaminated water, a second chamber for completing the heating and deaeration, means for introducing contaminated water to be deaerated in broken-up form within the spacing of said ber,, means for directing partially heated and deaerated water from said first chamber downwardly under acceleration into said second chamber, mixer means operably associated with said steam-introducing means and with said waterdirecting means, said mixer means having a pair of operably associated wall portions, one of said wall portions being shaped to direct the steam being introduced upwardly and outwardly within the spacing of said second chamber, the other of said wall portions being shaped to direct the accelerated water outwardly and upwardly within the spacing of said second chamber above and along the outwardly directed steam, and then, when water-acceleration is lost into convergence with such steam within the spacing of said second chamber.

14. Apparatus 'for heating and deaerating water comprisinga chamber for heating and partially deaerating contaminated water and a second chamber ior completing the heating and deaeration, means operably connecting said first contaminated water to be deaerated into said first chamber, means for introducing deaerating steam into said second chamber, said connecting means being arranged to direct partially contaminated steam from said second chamber into said first chamber, means for directing partially heated and deaerated water from said first chamber into said second chamber, mixer means operably associated with said connecting means and with said water-directing means, said mixer means having a pair of sloped wall portions, one of said portions being positioned above the other portion, said portions being operably associated with each other and providing a steam chamber, the upper of said portions being slopedupwardly to direct partially heated and deaerated water therealong and in circular sheet form upwardly under acceleration therefrom within'the spacing of said second chamber, the lower of said portions being sloped-upwardly to direct steam from the steam chamber therealong and in circular sheet form upwardly therefrom and within contaminated water to be deaerated into said first chamber, means for introducing deaerating the spacing of said second chamber along and beneath the water sheet in such a manner that the water and steam sheets will initially flow parallel in a heat exchange relation with each other and that the water sheet will then fall upon the steam sheet beyond said mixer means.

first chamber, means for intro- .ducing deaerating steam into said second chamsecond chambers, means for introducing 15. Apparatus for heating and deaerating water comprising a chamber for heating and partially deaerating contaminated water a second chamber for completing the heating and deaeration, means for introducing contaminated water to be deaerated in broken-up form within the spacing of said first chamber, means for introducing deaerating steam into said second chamber,'means fordirecting partially contaminated steam from said second into said'iflrst chamber, means for directing partially heated and deaerated water from said first chamber under gravity acceleration downwardly into said second chamber, mixer means operably associated with said steam-introducing means and with said water directing means and having portions constructed and arranged to project the steam upwardly and outwardly therefrom and within the spacing of said second mentioned chamber in sheet-like form, said 'mixer means having a portion constructed and arranged to direct the downwardly-introduced and accelerated water outwardly and upwardly therefrom in sheet-like form into the spacing of said second chamber and into heating and deaerating contact with the steam sheet within such spacing.

16. Apparatus for heating and deaerating water comprising a. chamber for heating and partially deaerating contaminated water, a second chamber for completing the heating and. deaeration, means -for introducing contaminated water to be deaerated in broken-up form within the spacing of said first chamber, means for introducing deaerating steam into said second chamber, means shaped to direct water that is partially heated and deaerated in said first chamber downwardly under gravity acceleration into 'said second chamber, said water-directing means being associated with said steam-introducing means, and mixer means having portions providing a steam passage and being constructed and arranged to direct the water and steam therefrom to enter spacing of said second chamber in substantially parallel-radially-outwardlyprojecting heat-exchanging circular sheets under normal and high load conditions and being shaped to collect the water in said steam passage and to cause the steam to bubble through and scrub the collected water under low load conditions.

1'7. Apparatus for heating and deaerating water comprising a chamber for heating and partially deaerating contaminated water, a second chamber for completing the heating and deaeration, means for introducing contaminated water to be deaerated in broken-up form within the spacing of said first chamber, means for introducing deaerating steam into said second chamber, means for directing partially contaminated steam from said second into said first chamber, means for directing water that is partially heated and deaerated in said first chamber downwardly under gravity acceleration into said second chamber, said water-directing means being associated with said steam-introducing means, mixer means having portions constructed and arranged to direct the water and steam therefrom to enter spacing of said lower chamber in substantially parallel radially-outwardlyprojecting heat-exchanging circular sheets under normal and high load conditions and being shaped to cause the steam to bubble through and scrub the water in said mixer means under low load conditions.

JOHN R. McDERMET. 

